Kukla's Korner Hockey

Entries with the tag: brenden morrow

FRISCO, Texas - The Dallas Stars and Brenden Morrow announced today the forward's retirement from the National Hockey League after 15 seasons. Morrow signed a ceremonial one-day agreement with Dallas on Thursday and retired as a member of the Stars.

From mid-August onward, the free agents remaining on the market tend to start signing either short-term deals or agree to pro try-outs--and with the NHL's teams "capped out" in large part due to the almost-flat salary cap, and the Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline notes that there are still some solid free agents out there:

-- Veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar will attend camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins on a professional tryout offer. That's the best the 41-year-old could do. You wonder if other established NHL players might go the similar route. It's a bit of a gamble -- take the low-ball offers on the table now, or go to somebody camp without a contract, wait for the inevitable injuries to crop up around the league, and sign a deal that's right. Among the NHL players still out there: forwards Daniel Briere, Curtis Glencross, Stephen Weiss, Martin Erat, Martin Havlat, Brenden Morrow, Daniel Cleary, Olli Jokinen, Tomas Fleishmann, Erik Cole, Michael Ryder, B.J. Crombeen, Jiri Tlusty, Sean Bergenheim, Tyler Kennedy, Marcel Goc and Scottie Upshall, and defenseman Cody Franson, Jan Hejda, Andrej Meszaros, Marek Zidlicky, Bryan Allen, Eric Brewer, Michal Roszival, John Erskine, Keith Ballard, Tim Gleason and David Schlemko.

-- What would you think of this club?

F1: Curtis Glencross – Steppen Weiss - Daniel Briere

F2: Martin Havlat – Olli Jokinen – Michael Ryder

F3: Martin Erat – Tomas Fleischmann – Brenden Morrow

F4: Erik Cole – Marcel Goc - B.J. Crombeen

extras: Tyler Kennedy, Jiri Tlusty

D1: Christian Ehrhoff – Andrej Meszaros

D2: Jan Hejda – Cody Franson

D3: Tim Gleason – Marek Zidlicky

extra: John Erskine

G1: Josh Harding

G2: Jonas Gustavsson

G3: Ray Emery

OK, you've got some goaltending issues. And, yes, this group would look a lot better, say, in 2008-09 than it does now. But that, friends, is the the current all-UFA team. How many games does that team win?

Morrow, 6-foot, 205 pounds, played in 71 games with the St. Louis Blues in 2013-14, recording 13 goals and 25 points with a plus-1 rating. He scored four power-play goals and three game-winning goals. Morrow ranked eighth on the team for goals and averaged 11:54 in ice time per game.

“I feel I’ll play somewhere this season at some time. I am confident in that. But I want it to be the right fit, where I can possibly be there for a little longer time, and where I feel confident I can help. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Their hearts tell them they should be homesick. But their hockey sense says something else entirely.

Jarome Iginla was a fixture in Calgary since 1996, captain since 2003, franchise record-holder across the board and civic treasure from his arrival until however long that flaming “C” burns. He was as gritty as he was gifted, as committed to his craft as to the community.

Upon Iginla's trade to the Penguins last month, the Calgary Herald's editorial board penned the following on a page usually reserved for war, politics and other serious stuff: “If anyone has truly earned a shot at the Stanley Cup, it's Jarome Iginla. Good luck in Pittsburgh, Iggy. We'll cheer for you all the way.”

Iginla reached one Cup final with the Flames, in 2004. He lost to the Lightning.

Brenden Morrow was a fixture in Dallas since 1999, captain since 2007, franchise record-holder in penalty minutes and second in goals. Gritty, gifted, committed, community-minded … all that, too.

Upon Morrow's trade to the Penguins last month, a Texas-based blogger for SB Nation wrote: “What did the Stars get from Brenden Morrow? Everything.”

Morrow reached one Cup final with the Stars, in 2000. He lost to the Devils.

I talked to Brenden Morrow about the April 3 trade deadline, and he had a refreshing point of view.

Morrow knows that there’s a very good chance he could be traded, as he can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer and the Stars appear to have no interest in signing him. At age 34, he believes he still has plenty to give, and he is taking a calm attitude about handling the trade talk.

“I don’t read anything, but I do see things on Twitter and I do have people telling me what’s out there,’’ Morrow said of the trade rumors. “It’s a tough environment, but I just focus on playing hockey.’’

Morrow has a no-trade clause, and he watched former Stars center Brad Richards go through a trade deadline, so he understands the control he wields. The guess is he will not stand in the way of a trade, and that he and GM Joe Nieuwendyk have a great relationship, so the two will work through this uncomfortable time.

I imagine Morrow would be a good fit for teams needing some veteran leadership heading into the playoffs, but I do wonder how much game he has left due to the wear and tear his body has taken over the years.

Morrow is playing on the fourth line and has logged less than 10 minutes a game in each of the last two outings. He hasn’t seen that kind of role since he wore No. 45 while breaking in as a rookie back in 1999-2000. It’s not an easy decision for the Stars to make, and it’s not an easy reality for Morrow, who has played 812 games in a Stars uniform and has been captain for the past seven seasons.

“I understand the circumstances, and I know where we are, and I’m just trying every day to do something to help the team,’’ Morrow said. “You don’t want to be a distraction or ruffle any feathers, so you just put your head down and push forward.’’

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said he has kept an open line of communication with Morrow, and said he’s been impressed with how the veteran has handled the situation.

“He’s the ultimate professional,’’ Gulutzan said. “We’ve talked about it, and he is very determined to do whatever he can to help the team.’’

Morrow turned 34 on Jan. 16, so he is not old. He suffered through an injury-plagued 2011-12, but he said he feels healthy now after working hard over the past eight months to improve core strength and flexibility.

However, the problem could be the game is either getting too fast for him, or he simply doesn’t have a fit in the ever-changing Stars’ lineup.

There’s been much speculation on Brenden Morrow’s future in recent days, including the possibility that the Stars’ captain might be traded. But Stars’ GM Joe Nieuwendyk said today that he has had discussions with Morrow and that he expects Morrow to be a big part of the team next season.

“We had a good talk the other day, and I told him I very much believe there’s a place for him on this team,” Nieuwendyk said while vacationing in upstate New York. “I told him I fully expect him to be out there on the power play in front of the net where he’s always been.”

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has acknowledged being involved in trade talks recently and now those discussions could be leading to a deal soon.

The Blues have prioritized adding a top-four defenseman this offseason, and after failing to land one in free agency, the trade route may be the club’s only option. But while that search continues, Armstrong might have found a veteran forward to add to the mix.

Dallas captain Brenden Morrow is believed to be available and it appears that the Blues have interest. They may not be the only team asking about Morrow, as the New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings may also be in contact with the Stars.

• Why should anybody be surprised that Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow might be on the market? There are lots of miles on that chassis from all the punishment he’s taken and dished out, and he just turned 33. He’s still an effective player, but this is the classic case of the Stars checking the level of teams’ interest before Morrow hits the free-agent marketplace on July 1, 2013. He would be the perfect pickup for the San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks or Detroit Red Wings, although you would think they would rather move him to an Eastern Conference team. Do you think Brad Richards in New York would be talking him up to Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather? You think the Washington Capitals, in serious need of more leadership, would grab him? In a heartbeat. He’s well-priced at a $4.1-million cap hit for one more year….

• When Ryan Suter says he won’t sign a new deal before the Feb. 27 deadline, it puts the Nashville Predators in an awful spot. They need Suter to make the playoffs, but they lost Dan Hamhuis, also an unrestricted free agent, for virtually nothing in 2010. GM David Poile vowed he wasn’t going to get burned again and wants something tangible for the NHL’s most underrated defenceman. Suter says he’s still a Predator and doesn’t want his contract status to be a distraction, but once he gets to July 1 as a free agent, all bets are off. Watch the teams line up, just as they did for that auction for Dallas centre Brad Richards last summer. Suter wants the Predators to get help offensively if he’s to stay, but Nashville can’t deal, for instance, puck-moving D-man rookie Ryan Ellis to get that forward, not if Suter walks, too. The best Poile could do is get a stocking stuffer for Suter’s rights before the July 1 deadline.

much more and in the column, Mr. Matheson notes Evgeni Malkin leads the league with 7 GWG, but Johan Franzen has 9 so far this season…

When you get waxed as the Tampa Bay Lightning did Saturday night in Sunrise, 6-0 to the Florida Panthers, all you can ask for is a rebound to the tune of two points in the following game. The Bolts got just that last night against Dallas, so complaints can be held to a minimum. Besides, as head coach Guy Boucher said during the preseason, this team won’t be at their best in the first 5, 10, 15 games of the season. And who would want them to be? Certainly, all would rather a club peak much, much (much, much, much) later, no?

As a regular feature, Canwest sports reporter Cory Wolfe gets personal with a sports figure. Today, Dallas Stars forward Brenden Morrow gets cornered. Morrow, who is currently recovering from knee surgery, is heading home to Saskatchewan for Hockey Day in Canada.

Canwest: OK, let’s have a little fun. You and Marian Hossa roomed together as junior teammates with the Portland Winter Hawks. How do his video-game skills compare with his hockey skills?

Morrow: I’d say that I was A-plus in video games and he was the A-plus hockey player. It was reversed with my hockey abilities and his video gaming.

Morrow: He’s as normal as a goalie can be, I think, because there are some messed up ones. Rooming with (Mike) Modano was the weirdest. The moment he walked in the hotel room he’d be naked. Marty was almost too normal. We liked the same temperature in the room. I got to work the remote and we both liked it cold in the room. I don’t know why we ever switched roommates.

Brenden Morrow spoke to the media at the morning skate, and said he was stunned when he found out that an awkward fall in Thursday’s game would keep him out for six months with a torn ACL in his right knee.

“I’m a little bit shocked,” he said. “I don’t really feel that bad. I kind of expected a game or two, and the six months recovery kind of caught me off guard.

“I’m walking around here today and can’t really believe it, he added. “I can walk fine, how can’t I play?”

FRISCO, Tex. – The Dallas Stars announced today that the left wing Brenden Morrow is out indefinitely with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will require surgery. He is expected to miss up to six months. The club also recalled right wing Landon Wilson from Grand Rapids (AHL).

“We are obviously very disappointed to hear the news about Brenden’s knee,” said Co-General Manager Les Jackson. “As our captain, he will obviously be missed, but we have every assurance that he can and will come back from this injury at 100 percent. There is a lot of hockey left to be played this season, and we are confident our team will rally together and keep pushing.”

It’s one step forward and two steps back for the Stars, who ended their three-game California road trip with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings and might lose their captain for the next game.

Sticking up for teammate Mike Ribeiro, who was knocked into the boards by Kings forward Dustin Brown, Morrow started a fight with Brown and received an instigator penalty in the final five minutes of a game….

Ribeiro was in a shooting position when Brown hit him, and Ribeiro flew into the boards and hit his head. He received stitches over his left eye, but did return to the game and made an incredible goal to help extend the shootout.

Stars captain Brenden Morrow was interviewed Thursday by Bob and Dan of BaD Radio on 1310-AM The Ticket and had a lot to say.

One of the first points Morrow made was to revisit a questionable roughing penalty called on Stars defenseman Mark Fistric in the first period of a 4-1 loss in Game 1 against the Red Wings. Referee Bill McCreary whistled Fistric for the 2-minute minor for roughing Tomas Holmstrom, giving the Red Wings a 5-on-3 power play that they converted into a Brian Rafalski goal nine seconds after getting the two-man advantage to take a quick 1-0 lead.

Today’s media time with the Dallas Stars’ Brenden Morrow and coach Dave Tippett.

Q. What is the update on Brenden?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Brenden is fine, ready to go.

Q. Do you think you’ll be looking at different changes for lines?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: We’ll tinker around a little bit. We’re certainly looking for answers, looking for ways to win games. So that’s where we’re at. We’ll continue to find the answers and see if we can get the win we need.

Brenden Morrow was skating along the boards, interfered with by the Avs Jeff Finger and taken into the glass partition between the benches. Finger gets 2 for interference, Morrow gets stunned and was down on his knees for a few minutes while being treated by the Stars trainer.

Mike Ribeiro is the stylish one. Antti Miettinen is the quick and physical one. Then there’s Brenden Morrow, the dependable one. Always in front of the net, always willing to do whatever it takes. And as the halfway mark of the season nears, Morrow continues to be one of the steadiest Stars on the roster.